Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Lophiiformes

Family: Chaunacidae

Genus: Chaunacops

Species: Chaunacops melanostomus (Caruso, 1989)

Climate Zone

Location

• Eastern Indian Ocean: currently only known from localities between 14° and 30°S and 86° and 114°E.

Biology

A benthic species found on the continental slope (Ref. 75154). The first video footage of this species was taken from the North West Shelf of Western Australia where it is shown that the fish was on sandy bottom with no rocks visible; and during the 55 s movie, the fish swam slowly for a short distance (about 4-5 times body length) by moving its tail from side to side, stayed motionless for about 20 seconds and then turned right to face the camera by moving the pectoral-fins and the tail at the same time. There were no jet propulsion from the gill openings observed in this individual (Ref. 99940).

Habitat

bathydemersal

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Threat to Humans

Harmless